Sirmia has "celebrated" this day by visiting the house of Jean Monnet today, in Bazoches-sur-Guyonne, France. It's a very nice place in the middle of the nature, very thoughtful... it's no wonder that such nice thoughts as the idea of the European Community were born there

World peace cannot be safeguarded without the making of creative efforts proportionate to the dangers which threaten it.The contribution which an organized and living Europe can bring to civilization is indispensable to the maintenance of peaceful relations. In taking upon herself for more than 20 years the role of champion of a united Europe, France has always had as her essential aim the service of peace. A united Europe was not achieved and we had war.

Europe will not be made all at once, or according to a single plan. It will be built through concrete achievements which first create a de facto solidarity. The coming together of the nations of Europe requires the elimination of the age-old opposition of France and Germany. Any action taken must in the first place concern these two countries.With this aim in view, the French Government proposes that action be taken immediately on one limited but decisive point.

Picture - Schuman Declaration of 9 May 1950It proposes that Franco-German production of coal and steel as a whole be placed under a common High Authority, within the framework of an organization open to the participation of the other countries of Europe. The pooling of coal and steel production should immediately provide for the setting up of common foundations for economic development as a first step in the federation of Europe, and will change the destinies of those regions which have long been devoted to the manufacture of munitions of war, of which they have been the most constant victims.

The solidarity in production thus established will make it plain that any war between France and Germany becomes not merely unthinkable, but materially impossible. The setting up of this powerful productive unit, open to all countries willing to take part and bound ultimately to provide all the member countries with the basic elements of industrial production on the same terms, will lay a true foundation for their economic unification.

This production will be offered to the world as a whole without distinction or exception, with the aim of contributing to raising living standards and to promoting peaceful achievements. With increased resources Europe will be able to pursue the achievement of one of its essential tasks, namely, the development of the African continent. In this way, there will be realised simply and speedily that fusion of interest which is indispensable to the establishment of a common economic system; it may be the leaven from which may grow a wider and deeper community between countries long opposed to one another by sanguinary divisions.

By pooling basic production and by instituting a new High Authority, whose decisions will bind France, Germany and other member countries, this proposal will lead to the realization of the first concrete foundation of a European federation indispensable to the preservation of peace.

Happy 9th May to you. Too bad that so many Europeans (in the merely geographical sense of the term) are not really EUropeans (in a political sense) any more. Whether that will change in the future, and not get even worse, we'll see. Anyway, have a great one!

Don't know to what extent it is actually celebrated - it certainly is quite different from a national holiday. Guess that most EU citizens, even those who believe that the European Union is basically a good thing, don't even know about the date. Anyway, on 9 May 1950 the French foreign minister Robert Schuman suggested, in the so-called Schuman Declaration, a close political cooperation of the European countries. Some more info about the day, and about other EU symbols, is here: http://europa.eu/about-eu/basic-informa ... dex_en.htm

tabbs wrote:Don't know to what extent it is actually celebrated - it certainly is quite different from a national holiday. Guess that most EU citizens, even those who believe that the European Union is basically a good thing, don't even know about the date.

It varied much from state and zone: some celebrate plainly, others don't consider. For example, in Italy some cities organize the "Blue Nights", with several initiatives and little markets with food for sale from all Europe.

In general terms, also being an official festivity 9 May doesn't have still the just consideration that is deserved. It would have to render it 100% festivity, with day of vacation in all the states.

tabbs wrote:Anyway, on 9 May 1950 the French foreign minister Robert Schuman suggested, in the so-called Schuman Declaration, a close political cooperation of the European countries. Some more info about the day, and about other EU symbols, is here: http://europa.eu/about-eu/basic-informa ... dex_en.htm

It must specify two fundamental elements: even if called "Schuman" the Declaration has been devised from Jean Monnet, and it doesn't wish a generic "close political cooperation" but a precisely objective: a real federation.

ART wrote:It must specify two fundamental elements: even if called "Schuman" the Declaration has been devised from Jean Monnet, and it doesn't wish a generic "close political cooperation" but a precisely objective: a real federation.

Right, but these two are not mutually exclusive. What the Schuman Declaration proposed was a close cooperation, in the sense of a continuous process, with the ultimate goal of a European federation. Well, in my opinion we will never get there; not with this Union of almost 30 member states, and with this rise of nationalism in many member states. But it does make sense to emphasize that what has been reached so far should not really be the final stage.

As for Europe Day, there is another issue - we have two. From a European Union point of view, it is 9 May; the Council of Europe has it on 5 May. That is why in Germany for example you have a "Europe Week" in some cities. Whether it actually helps promoting the European idea ... hard to tell. Should it be a holiday (in the sense of people having a day off)? Then you run into the problem that 8/9 May is primarily seen as WW2 Victory Day in many European countries. And of course employers will not be fond of introducing another holiday.

tabbs wrote:Right, but these two are not mutually exclusive. What the Schuman Declaration proposed was a close cooperation, in the sense of a continuous process, with the ultimate goal of a European federation.

True, I have explained badly.

tabbs wrote:Well, in my opinion we will never get there; not with this Union of almost 30 member states, and with this rise of nationalism in many member states. But it does make sense to emphasize that what has been reached so far should not really be the final stage.

True also, but we aren't obliged to pursue a serious political union with 27 and beyond: we can begin from a less numerous nucleus, then the others will join later when they will be ready.

tabbs wrote:As for Europe Day, there is another issue - we have two. From a European Union point of view, it is 9 May; the Council of Europe has it on 5 May. That is why in Germany for example you have a "Europe Week" in some cities.

This isn't a real problem: festivity for us (EU) is 9 May, doesn't have importance if the international organization Council of Europe adopt another day.

tabbs wrote:Whether it actually helps promoting the European idea ... hard to tell. Should it be a holiday (in the sense of people having a day off)?

Yes, like in every important recurrence.

tabbs wrote:Then you run into the problem that 8/9 May is primarily seen as WW2 Victory Day in many European countries. And of course employers will not be fond of introducing another holiday.

A common festivity that it celebrates the beginning of the process of European integration is already official, therefore it's also an indeed important event for us and a vacation day is deserved, similarly to a national festivity. If employers will not be fond of introducing another holiday we can abolish a useless festivity, as for example WW2 Victory Day: it refers an event of war between Europeans that has only had USA and Russia for real winners.

tabbs wrote:Whether it actually helps promoting the European idea ... hard to tell. Should it be a holiday (in the sense of people having a day off)?

Yes, like in every important recurrence.

In Madrid, this could result in a month of May with a lot of days off: 1st of May (Work Day, as in other places), 2nd May (regional holiday) and 15th May (local holiday). Could we move the european holiday to another month? Only to distribute the days off along the year